Citation Nr: 21026591 Decision Date: 05/03/21 Archive Date: 05/03/21 DOCKET NO. 18-07 714 DATE: May 3, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for a left knee disability is remanded. Service connection for a right knee disability is remanded. Service connection for a left hip disability is remanded. Service connection for a right hip disability is remanded. A rating higher than 20 percent for a right eye disability is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from July 1989 to July 1993. This matter is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a January 2016 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). Left and right knee disabilities The Veteran's claim for service connection for left and right knee disabilities was previously denied because there is no diagnosed knee disability. At an October 2015 VA examination, the examiner did not provide an etiology opinion as no diagnosis was rendered. The examiner found that there was no evidence of pathology on examination or x-rays. At the examination, however, the Veteran reported knee pain that worsened with use. The Veteran has reported that the knee pain started in service and has continued since. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee pain. Saunders v. Wilkie, 886 F.3d 1356, 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2018 (finding that pain alone can serve as a disability for VA compensation purposes if the pain results in functional impairment). Left and right hip disabilities The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain a VA examination for the hips. While the Veteran does not have a diagnosed hip disability, as noted above, pain may be a disability for VA purposes. No VA examination was conducted regarding the hips. Therefore, remand is necessary. Right eye disability The Board finds that a more contemporaneous VA examination is required to properly assess the current severity of the Veteran's right eye disability. The Veteran was provided a VA examination in October 2015. A June 2020 brief indicates that the right eye disability has worsened since the prior VA examination. Palczewski v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 174 (2007). Therefore, remand is necessary to obtain a current examination. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Associate any pertinent VA or private medical records that are not already of record with the claims file. 2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any bilateral knee disability. The examiner must review the claims file, including previous VA examinations, and should note that review in the report. A complete history of onset and symptoms should be elicited from the Veteran. Any tests and studies deemed necessary should be conducted and all findings should be reported in detail. The examiner should opine as to whether it is at least as likely not (50 percent or greater probability) that any diagnosed knee disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service. If no knee disability is diagnosed, but knee pain is found on examination, the examiner should provide etiology opinions regarding the knee pain experienced. The examiner should specifically address an in-service diagnosis of tendonitis. 3. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any hip disability. The examiner must review the claims file, including previous VA examinations, and should note that review in the report. A complete history of onset and symptoms should be elicited from the Veteran. Any tests and studies deemed necessary should be conducted and all findings should be reported in detail. The examiner should opine as to whether it is at least as likely not (50 percent or greater probability) that any diagnosed hip disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service. If no hip disability is diagnosed, but pain is found on examination, the examiner should provide etiology opinions regarding the hip pain experienced. 4. Schedule the Veteran for a VA eye examination to determine the current nature and severity of the service-connected right eye disability. The examiner must review the claims file and should note that review in the report. Any and all studies or tests deemed necessary should be performed, including visual field testing. The examiner should elicit information about the nature of the right eye disability and symptoms when present, even if not present at the time of the examination. To the extent possible, the examiner should identify any symptoms and functional impairments due to the Veteran's eye disability and should discuss the effect of the disability on any occupational functioning and activities of daily living. JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board H. Ahmad, Counsel The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.